Higher Education Administration Doctoral Degree

The Department of Educational Administration and Foundations offers either a Ph.D. or Ed.D. doctoral degree program for applicants who have master's degrees as well as teaching, administrative, or staff experience in higher education institutions. Both degrees require 60 hours of coursework, a doctoral examination, and 15 dissertation hours. Students are also required to complete a residency (hour) requirement.

Outcomes / Degree Requirements / Residency / Contact

Higher Education Doctoral Program Goals and Outcomes

The higher education concentration allows experienced educators and administrators to reflect on and advance their knowledge in ways that will further their careers and enhance their ability to make a contribution to higher education. A doctoral degree graduate with the higher education concentration will have the knowledge and skills necessary to:

1. Advance and apply scholarship on higher education administration to the leadership of higher educational institutions and organizations. In particular, graduates will be well-versed in the following areas, which are essential to understanding and articulating the educational roles of colleges and universities:
   
• Cultural, ethical, and societal issues that affect higher education
• Economic, legal, and political issues that affect higher education
• Organization, governance, leadership, and administrative theories
• Higher education finance, law, and planning
• History of higher education
  
2. Understand and utilize design and analysis factors when interpreting research literature and when conducting research and evaluation studies.
   
3. Identify and utilize appropriate instructional and administrative technologies. 
   
4. Understand the roles, functions, and interrelationships among a college's or university's major constituents, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees.
   
5. Promote diversity initiatives within higher education settings.
   
6. Conduct research that contributes to an understanding of administrative practice and/or theory and disseminate the results of that research to relevant audiences.

Degree Requirements

The Ed.D. program primarily serves those seeking administrative positions. The Ph.D. program serves those interested in focusing on research. The doctorate requires 60 course hours beyond the master's degree and 15 dissertation hours. The University's 8-year limit applies to transfer courses. See EAF Plan of Study page for required Ph.D. and Ed.D. courses.

See Department Doctoral Steps and Procedures

Higher Education Courses

Higher Education Faculty

Residency Policy:

The residency policy for doctoral students in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations at Illinois State University states the following: The purposes of Doctoral Residency in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations are to:

• orient and prepare graduate students to meet academic expectations and engage in activities which are associated with involvement in a scholarly environment as they pursue their doctoral degree in this Department and University;
• engage graduate students in the process of inquiry appropriate to their area of interest, discipline of study, and method of investigation;
• stimulate the intellectual, personal, and social development of graduate students to the educational administration profession through mentoring and other activities involving faculty, other students and other professionals;
• provide access to libraries, laboratories and other instructional materials, including computers and other technologies, which support the intellectual development of students.

A doctoral student (Ph.D., Ed.D.) must be enrolled for at least two terms in residency in an 18-month period. A term is defined as a semester or an 8 week summer session. Residency is defined as successful completion of at least 9 semester hours in the 18-week semester and 6 hours in the traditional eight-week summer session. With the adviser's recommendation, 599 hours may be included as part of the student's requirement for residency.

Each student will file a declaration of residency for approval of the department chairperson prior to entering into residency, and the department chairperson will verify the completion of the residency. The declaration shall specify:

1. how the student will allow adequate time to concentrate on doctoral level study and research during residency;
2. how the student will become involved in the professional activities of the department;
3. how the student will obtain accessibility of libraries, laboratories and research tools necessary for doctoral level study.

Any exceptions to the above requirements must have the approval of the department chairperson and the graduate dean.

For more information about the Higher Education Doctorate contact:

Dr.Phyllis McCluskey-Titus at pamcclu2 @ilstu.edu